Brunswick County dissolves Hospital Authority

Published: Monday, May 6, 2013 at 7:49 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, May 6, 2013 at 7:49 p.m.

Brunswick County Commissioners agreed Monday to dissolve the Brunswick County Hospital Authority, unceremoniously ending the county’s involvement in the hospital business.

The item, passed along with the consent agenda, allows the county to transfer $455,000 the authority held into Brunswick’s general fund. The money has a restricted use and will be used for health-related services, according to Brunswick County Attorney Huey Marshall.

The authority held its last official meeting in November, but it has taken months for the formal dissolution of the board, Marshall said. He said there is no formal process for the board’s dissolution.

Specific uses earmarked for the $455,000 will include setting aside money for various health care programs at Brunswick Community College and the SECU Hospice Care Center. Money also will be used to buy fitness equipment for Brunswick Senior Resources and the county will consider requests for grants from nonprofits.

The remaining funds will be set aside for health and wellness in the county and no more than 20 percent of the available amount should be distributed to one single organization.

The dissolution of the board does not clear up what will happen with the building the authority once oversaw.

The 32-acre Brunswick Community Hospital property was handed back to the county after Novant Health, which operated the former hospital site, moved its operations to the newly built Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center at the end of July 2011.

The old site was put up for sale a few months later. The county had wanted to sell the property to avoid maintenance costs, but the property has been slow to be purchased. The property costs upwards of $20,000 a month to maintain.

But the county is in contract with East Lands One LLC until May 18. The business is looking to buy the property for $1.75 million and has said it is working to get its finances in order, Marshall said.

Jim McFarland, owner of East Lands One, has said he likes what the site has to offer, but did not have a specific use in mind.

Marshall added others are interested in the property, but if the county shows the property to them, the county will be in breach of contract. The building was built in 1978.

“It’s still sitting there, empty,” Marshall said. “The county is not taken with the idea of (demolishing) it. We hope there might be a use for it.”

In other business, Finance Officer Ann Hardy was appointed interim county manager and will be paid $135,875 during that time. As finance officer, Hardy received a salary of about $121,000

<p>Brunswick County Commissioners agreed Monday to dissolve the Brunswick County Hospital Authority, unceremoniously ending the county's involvement in the hospital business.</p><p>The item, passed along with the consent agenda, allows the county to transfer $455,000 the authority held into Brunswick's general fund. The money has a restricted use and will be used for health-related services, according to Brunswick County Attorney Huey Marshall.</p><p>The authority held its last official meeting in November, but it has taken months for the formal dissolution of the board, Marshall said. He said there is no formal process for the board's dissolution.</p><p>Specific uses earmarked for the $455,000 will include setting aside money for various health care programs at Brunswick Community College and the SECU Hospice Care Center. Money also will be used to buy fitness equipment for Brunswick Senior Resources and the county will consider requests for grants from nonprofits.</p><p>The remaining funds will be set aside for health and wellness in the county and no more than 20 percent of the available amount should be distributed to one single organization.</p><p>The dissolution of the board does not clear up what will happen with the building the authority once oversaw.</p><p>The 32-acre <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9965"><b>Brunswick Community Hospital</b></a> property was handed back to the county after Novant Health, which operated the former hospital site, moved its operations to the newly built Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center at the end of July 2011.</p><p>The old site was put up for sale a few months later. The county had wanted to sell the property to avoid maintenance costs, but the property has been slow to be purchased. The property costs upwards of $20,000 a month to maintain.</p><p>But the county is in contract with East Lands One LLC until May 18. The business is looking to buy the property for $1.75 million and has said it is working to get its finances in order, Marshall said.</p><p>Jim McFarland, owner of East Lands One, has said he likes what the site has to offer, but did not have a specific use in mind.</p><p>Marshall added others are interested in the property, but if the county shows the property to them, the county will be in breach of contract. The building was built in 1978.</p><p>“It's still sitting there, empty,” Marshall said. “The county is not taken with the idea of (demolishing) it. We hope there might be a use for it.”</p><p>In other business, Finance Officer Ann Hardy was appointed interim county manager and will be paid $135,875 during that time. As finance officer, Hardy received a salary of about $121,000</p><p><a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9907"><b>Jason Gonzales</b></a>: 343-2075</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @StarNews_Jason</p>